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Garden Spirit of the Garden
- 2000
McIntyre St. Gallery, Regina
There is a garden
in her face,
Where roses and white lilies grow.
An
Hour's Recreation in Music by Richard Alison, c. 1606
The idea of "garden" as a metaphor for the ideal utopian existence
is well known. It is part of a human tendency for the desire
to organize and control nature. The garden has often been referred
to as a domestic enclosure, where the life cycles of nature
are tamed and redirected. Although a true and sincere gardener
strives to work in harmony with the ebb and flow of natural
forces.
In seeking to continue autobiographical content in my work,
I found myself reflecting on the importance of gardens in my
own life. I am an avid gardener and my heritage and family connections
are strongly rooted in the Channel Island of Jersey which is
a horticultural haven and overflows with gorgeous gardens of
every kind.
However, I actually learned how to garden in Saskatchewan, and
have built and renovated several gardens over the years. My
present garden is about 85 years old and is gradually undergoing
a process of change. I consider it to be a work of art "in progress"!
It has become an important extension to my life, providing me
with sustenance, sanctuary, exercise, and enormous pleasure.
I also think of it as a source of inspiration for my thoughts
about art making.
